A joint regression modeling framework for analyzing bivariate binary data in R

We discuss some of the features of the R add-on package GJRM which implements a flexible joint modeling framework for fitting a number of multivariate response regression models under various sampling schemes. In particular,we focus on the case inwhich the user wishes to fit bivariate binary regression models in the presence of several forms of selection bias. The framework allows for Gaussian and non-Gaussian dependencies through the use of copulae, and for the association and mean parameters to depend on flexible functions of covariates. We describe some of the methodological details underpinning the bivariate binary models implemented in the package and illustrate them by fitting interpretable models of different complexity on three data-sets

A semiparametric bivariate probit model for joint modeling of outcomes in STEMI patients

In this work we analyse the relationship among in-hospital mortality and a treatment effectiveness outcome in patients affected by ST-Elevation myocardial infarction. The main idea is to carry out a joint modeling of the two outcomes applying a Semiparametric Bivariate Probit Model to data arising from a clinical registry called STEMI Archive. A realistic quantification of the relationship between outcomes can be problematic for several reasons. First, latent factors associated with hospitals organization can affect the treatment efficacy and/or interact with patient’s condition at admission time. Moreover, they can also directly influence the mortality outcome. Such factors can be hardly measurable. Thus, the use of classical estimation methods will clearly result in inconsistent or biased parameter estimates. Secondly, covariate-outcomes relationships can exhibit nonlinear patterns. Provided that proper statistical methods for model fitting in such framework are available, it is possible to employ a simultaneous estimation approach to account for unobservable confounders. Such a framework can also provide flexible covariate structures and model the whole conditional distribution of the response